As the Extended Educational Programs Fall Scene comes to a close and February 1st marks the official start of Winter Scene 2013, many existing programs continue to be offered while new and intriguing programs are being introduced. Whether it is the Quincy Public Schools John or Abigail Adams Orchestra or one of our many Elementary initiatives, Quincy Public Schools students have a wide variety of opportunity beyond the bell that supports both academic achievement and growth.

The BOKS program is a voluntary before-school physical activity program currently being piloted at the Squantum Elementary School. The BOKS program is sponsored by Reebok and is designed to prepare students for a day of learning while teaching the benefits of exercise and making healthy choices. BOKS was inspired by Dr. John Ratey’s book Spark which speaks to exercise being “the most powerful tool that we have to optimize the function of our brains.” Over sixty students have been joining Physical Education teacher Mr. Miller and several parent volunteers two mornings each week.

The BOKS program includes a number of team-oriented games, movement activities, and a nutrition component as part of the program. In his recent family newsletter, Principal Steve Sylvia wrote of how the program ties in with the school’s wellness goal this year and anticipating the positive and healthy impact this program will have on Squantum’s students and their learning.

At the Citywide Volleyball Championship Tournament held this past Saturday, January 26 at North Quincy High School, the Atlantic Middle School Girls team and the Broad Meadows Middle School Boys team were crowned City Champions. Congratulations to the over 140 players from across the city who competed this season and special thanks to the coaches:

“For teens, we offer five simple rules of digital citizenship to help them create a world they can be proud of—and inspire others to do the same”.

Think before you post or text – a bad reputation could be just a click away. Before you press the “send” button, imagine the last person in the world that you’d want seeing what you post.

What goes around comes around – If you want your privacy respected, respect others’ privacy. Posting an embarrassing photo or forwarding a friend’s private text without asking can cause unintended hurt or damage to others.

Spread heart, not hurt– If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it on line. Stand up for those who are bullied or harassed, and let them know that you’re there for them.

Give and get credit – We’re all proud of what we create. Illegal downloading, digital cheating, and cutting and pasting other people’s stuff maybe easy but that doesn’t make it right.

Make this a world you want to live in – Spread the good stuff. Create, share, tag, comment and contribute to the online world in positive ways.

Fourth grade students at Merrymount Elementary School in Quincy have had a unique learning experience. 4th Grade Teacher Lorie Hammerstrom has teamed up with NASA Scientist Michael Hare at the Johnson Space Center in Texas to teach interpretive skills and learn how to look at space-based photography the same way. NASA Earth observation scientists do. NASA researchers collect data relating to climate change, weather events, pollution, and land use through Earth Observation Satellites.

In the lesson, “A View From the Top” students learn how scientists use this information to observe and predict various events on Earth, such as precipitation, urban development, natural pollution, and uncovering lost ancient civilizations. Students learned how satellites are used in many careers, such as archaeology, weather forecasting, architecture and urban development. The 4th graders studied new geographical and scientific vocabulary. They also had a video tour of the International Space Station give by Sunita Williams. Many photos sent back from the International Space Station are remarkable.

Students studied photos of Mt. Vesuvius, the Bahamas, the Great Pyramids and much of Canada among others which were posted on Twitter by the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield. Many of the students were very excited to communicate with a NASA Scientists via the web conference. Students had hundreds of questions that they wanted to ask about remote sensing, curiosity, and various other things that they have learned about space exploration and NASA. Twenty one of those questions were asked by students and answered by Michael Hare. Michael was very comfortable with the students and seemed to be enjoying himself almost as much as the fourth graders. NASA is taking bold steps at the K-12 grade levels to prepare the next generation of explorers. Building on previous accomplishments, NASA has established a series of innovative programs designed to stimulate student interest in order to motivate higher levels of study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, subjects. These activities provide unique learning experiences for students, teachers, administrators and families.

Teacher, Lorrie Hammerstrom is pleased to announce that she has been accepted for another NASA event, Roving on Mars with Curiosity. It ties in current integration with earth, space and physical science standards. The next event will take place on February 15, 2013 at 12:15 P.M.

Quincy Public Schools offers a variety of educational experiences appropriate to the needs of all students, including those who are exceeding expectations for their grade level. Our Elementary Advanced Placement Program gives identified Grade 5 students an enrichment program designed to broaden and deepen their academic experience. The program is held at the Point Webster Middle School and students are transported from their elementary schools to Point Webster one day each week.

For current Grade 4 students, a letter describing the screening process was sent to all families in mid-February. Click here to review the 2018 parent letter. The letter to students identified to participate in the screening process was mailed out in March 2018. Screening assessments for all identified students were administered in late March and early April 2018. Screening result letters were mailed out by the end of April 2018.

For current Quincy Public Schools Grade 5 students who will enter Grade 6 in 2018-19 and did not attend the Elementary Advanced Placement Program in Grade 5, but wish to be considered to enter the Advanced Placement Program for Grades 6-8 at Central Middle School, there is an process to follow to request re-evaluation. Students requesting a re-evaluation must meet the following criteria: Two Exceeding Expectations scores on their most recent English Language Arts and Mathematics MCAS. Screening assessments for qualified students were held in April 2018 and notification letters have been sent out to families.

Private school students who may be eligible for the Middle School Advanced Placement Program for grade 6 may request an evaluation if they meet the following criteria: Documented evidence of scores at or above the 95thpercentile on standardized assessments such as the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), Stanford Achievement Test (SAT 10), or the Terra Nova.Screening assessments for qualified students were held in April 2018 and notification letters have been sent out to families.

The Quincy Parent Advisory Council to Special Education (QPAC) will host Communication in Special Education, on Monday January 28th! This exciting workshop will include a presentation and discussion about effective communication throughout the special education process!

The workshop begins at 6:30 pm at Quincy High School. Parents, teachers, and others are welcome, and active participation by all is encouraged! An RSVP is requested by January 24th.

Roche Bros is sponsoring a program to promote substance-free parties for high school seniors. The supermarket chain will donate 5% of the total cash register receipts collected on a specific day and time to support after prom parties.

On Thursday, January 31, 2013, volunteers from the NQHS Senior Stay Out Committee will be collecting register receipts from shoppers at the Quincy Roche Bros store between the hours of 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Everyone is encouraged to shop at the Quincy store on this day and time. Gift certificates purchased during the fundraiser will also be credited to NQHS Senior Stay Out.

Thank you for your support; it is greatly appreciated by the NQHS Senior Class of 2013.

The Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts website explicitly defines their mission: “Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts exists to provide a continuum of community based services that support the efforts of children and adults with developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible in the least restrictive environment. The agency through its programs and services encourages the inclusion of people with disabilities into the mainstream of society including social, recreational, family and work activities”.

Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts is an active and generous partner of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership. They currently fund four significant programs as a Quincy School ~ Community Partnership partner. The first program supplements the physical therapy and occupational therapy provided to students on Individualized Education Plans. The therapists serve students in the Snug Harbor Community Elementary School, Point Webster Middle School, Squantum Elementary School, ECC and North Quincy High School. Second, Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts sponsors two classrooms, one from ECC and one from Clifford Marshall Elementary School who participate in therapeutic

horseback riding at the Bridge Center, formally known as Handi Kids, located in Bridgewater. Special needs students from these schools attend once a week riding classes throughout the school year and the extended school year. The Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts Scholarship Program offers four $2,500.00 scholarships to students with Special Needs. These scholarships are for students who are graduating high school and moving on to continuing education. Two scholarships are made available for each of the high schools.

This past fall was the first year of working with the Special Needs Ice Skating Program run by Dan McHugh, a QPS SPED teacher. Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts purchased new helmets and skate laces for the student participants. Also provided is a physical therapist who works in the Lincoln Hancock pool with Dan to provide therapeutic services in the Adaptive Swimming Program.

Quincy Public Schools is fortunate to have Cerebral Palsy of Massachusetts contributing through these valuable programs and they are committed to continuing to support the Quincy Public Schools and their support of the Quincy School ~ Community Partnership. Their contribution totals in excess of $100,000.00 in manpower, equipment donation, and scholarship funding.

South Coastal Bank, as part of their committment to the growth and enrichment of their community, is once again sponsoring the Junior Board of Directors Initiative. According to Frances Wong, Marketing and Public Relations Officer of South Coastal Bank, the Junior Board of Directors was established to provide high school students with valuable experience regarding corporate structure, the business environment, and business processes. Student board members attend monthly business meetings, participate in an annual project, and offer their feedback on programs designed for the student market. Students gain personal experience with the inner workings of the world of business and contribute to their community in the process. This year’s project for the JBOD is to design a teen debit card.

In addition to North Quincy High School and Quincy High School, other local participating schools include Archbishop Williams High School, Braintree High School, Rockland High School, Scituate High School, and South Shore Vocational Technical High School in Hanover. The JBOD is comprised of two representatives from each school (one senior, one junior). North Quincy High School is proud to have Senior Lisa Yangserving as Chairman of the Junior Board of Directors. “Lisa is a very inspiring young woman,” according to Jeannette Travaline, Senior Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing. “We are fortunate to have her on the Board!”

South Coastal Bank also plays a significant role in sponsoring the Quincy School~Community Partnership’s Annual Credit for Life Fair and provides backpacks and school supplies for each student at Lincoln Hancock Elementary School. In addition, South Coastal Bank sponsors several extended day performing arts programs at the Beechwood Knoll Elementary School. Quincy Public Schools is thankful to have South Coastal Bank as a committed partner.

Quincy High School was awarded $94,469.05 in grant funding to retrofit a science classroom with advanced Life Science/Biology/Biotechnology laboratory equipment and materials.

Although Quincy High School is a new facility, the increased enrollment has overwhelmed the original design of the building and more class sections were necessary to prevent overcrowding and unsafe lab conditions. To address overcrowding in 2010, the Science Department was given one large multipurpose classroom which lacks the counters, storage space, utilities, and safety equipment necessary to perform biotechnology laboratories.

The Biotechnical Engineering course at Quincy High School has a broad curriculum and includes content from biology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, and anatomy/physiology. The course includes many lab activities with an inquiry approach meant to develop students’ abilities to problem solve; work collaboratively and present work in a professional format. The Biotechnical Engineering course will run several advanced level labs including a bacterial transformation with GFP plasmids, protein purification using high ion concentration (HIC) chromatography and a basic introduction to gel electrophoresis. The additional lab space and equipment will also allow the Biotechnical Engineering course to run annually rather than every few years and support the growing number of students that participate in the Quincy High School and Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fairs.

The materials purchased will expand the curriculum, allowing more experiments using electrophoresis boxes and one additional experiment will allow DNA fingerprinting using restriction enzyme digests. These complex labs will give students a better understanding of how DNA samples are manipulated in order to obtain results and draw conclusions.

Much of the additional equipment will be comparable to those used by scientists in research labs and hospital clinics on a daily basis. Genetic engineering and protein manufacturing are used to solve problems ranging from drug discovery medical diagnostics to bioremediation and biodiesel. The advanced science practice students gain will make them more competitive in the college application and career readiness process.

As part of this grant initiative, Quincy High School will collaborate with Quincy College and Warner-Babcock Green Chemistry. Guest speakers will visit QHS classrooms and field trips will take students to both Quincy College Biotech labs and the Warner-Babcock Green Chemistry Headquarters in Wilmington, MA. Students will be given the opportunity to work directly with professionals and collegiate level biotechnology students on projects that include synthesizing an environmentally benign cleanser by degrading poly-lactic acid cups and dinnerware, creating a viable solar cell using recycled materials, synthesizing biodiesel fuels using household cooking oils, as well as extracting vitamin C from various fruits.

Background Information on Project Team

Quincy High School Faculty:

Matthew Howard began teaching chemistry at Quincy High School in 2006 after graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester Mass. with a B.A. in Chemistry and a concentration in Biochemistry. In 2010 he took over teaching the biotechnical engineering class as part of the Project Lead the Way program after gaining certification by completing a summer training course at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has also recently completed a Masters of Education program at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy.

Julie Krieger began teaching biology and ELL environmental science at Quincy High School in 2008 after graduating from Harvard University with a Masters in Education. Prior to Harvard, she earned her B.S. in general biology at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. In the summer of 2008, she worked with the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry to provide a summer science enrichment program for highly motivated 8th and 9th graders. In the summers of 2011 and 2012, she supervised the Quincy Creek to Harbor Program, a 5 week summer science institute for academically at risk students. She currently teaches advanced biology and Advanced Placement environmental science at Quincy High School.

After graduating from Harvard College with a B.S. in biology at Harvard College in 1975, Lawrence Johnson became an instructor in Comparative Animal Physiology and Experimental Animal Physiology at Harvard College. Subsequently, he traveled to South and Central America and taught native peoples applied chemistry using fiber reactive dyes in order to establish more environmentally benign native dye works in Ecuador, Peru, and Guatemala. Lawrence began teaching at Quincy High School in the spring of spring of 2009 and currently teaches Life and Physical Science, ELL Biology and Horticulture, while mentoring Science students in experimental design.

District Information

Non Discrimination Policy

Quincy Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, or handicap, in its educational activities or employment practices as required by Title IX of the 1972 Federal Education Amendments, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and by Chapter 62 of the General Laws for the State of Massachusetts.